Kenyon College

What is the history of Kenyon College?

Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1824 by Philander Chase, the first Episcopal bishop of Ohio. It began in Worthington before moving to its present site in Gambier in 1828. The college takes its name from Lord Kenyon, an early supporter of Chase's educational plans.

Its origins were closely connected to preparing clergy for the growing Episcopal Church in Ohio. Kenyon later developed into a broader undergraduate institution; it began admitting women in 1969. Its history remains visible in the campus's older buildings and traditions, but applicants today should evaluate it as a coeducational liberal arts college rather than a seminary. The college is also associated with The Kenyon Review, the literary journal founded in 1939.

What are the faculties and departments at Kenyon College?

Kenyon organizes its undergraduate academics across the fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. It is primarily a bachelor's-degree institution, not a university with separate undergraduate, medical and professional schools.

Students can pursue subjects ranging from English, history and philosophy to biology, chemistry, mathematics, economics and political science. The arts include fields such as studio art, music, theater and dance. Interdisciplinary options include areas such as international studies and neuroscience. Kenyon's academic catalog is the appropriate place to check a major's current requirements, because a subject offered in individual courses is not necessarily available as a major.

The college reports a student-to-faculty ratio of about 9 to 1. That ratio describes institutional staffing relative to enrollment; it does not mean every class has nine students. Applicants interested in research, performance or a particular advanced course should examine its department's course rotation and opportunities for undergraduate participation.

What is the location of Kenyon College?

Kenyon College is in Gambier, a small village in Knox County, Ohio. Its residential campus offers a markedly different setting from a college embedded in a large city: much of students' academic and social activity takes place on campus or within the village.

Mount Vernon is the nearby larger community. Students who want frequent access to specialized shopping, internships or transportation outside the area should consider how they would travel. John Glenn Columbus International Airport is a useful regional airport, but getting between the airport and Gambier requires ground transportation. First-year students are permitted to park a car on campus; permission to park does not eliminate the need to check current registration rules and available spaces.

What is the mission and vision of Kenyon College?

Kenyon describes its educational purpose in liberal arts terms: developing students' abilities to think critically, communicate clearly and engage seriously with ideas across disciplines. Its residential setting is part of that educational model, rather than a substitute for the academic work required in a major.

The college's Episcopal origins are important to its history, but they should not be mistaken for a requirement that students share a particular faith. Prospective students comparing institutional missions should look at Kenyon's current mission statement and academic requirements to see how its stated priorities appear in the curriculum. A mission describes what the college aims to do; it is not, by itself, evidence that every student will have the same experience.